Graphic Satire

Edit 0 3 …
Personal Definition of Satire
Use of irony and/or hyperbole to mock the absurd, such as political events or social issues, thereby raising awareness and sparking question of change regarding the absurd

Petit Souper
external image mw63254.jpg
  • No pants is an exaggeration of the term Sans-Culotte, which refers to the non-noble people who could not afford the symbolic britches of nobility
  • The title "little supper" causes one to expect a a pleasant and peaceful setting with a nice table, bread, vegetables, etc.
  • Ironically, carton depicts cannibalistic savages with pointy teeth, not plates, shoving food in their faces with their hands, even though food (body parts) is plentiful
  • This hyperbole highlights the savagery and brutality of the revolutionaries, and how they kill for vengeance, not hunger
  • Bodies are so plentiful they have become trifles, even chairs
  • This hyperbole satirizes how revolution begun on values of human life but that the value of life has descended to a level of chairs in the revolutionary's eyes

Modern Day Cartoon
external image 205_155006.jpg
The above political cartoon satirizes what the cartoonist believes to be lack of action against Isis from the presidency. It uses hyperbole to exaggerate the inaction, reducing Obama's response to Isis as a mere whack with a newspaper. The cartoon depicts Obama boasting in order to mock the president's speeches, which lead one to believe action is being taken against the group. Ironically, Americans (and the cartoonist) know that the nation (where "that" slap came from) is capable of much more help to the middle eastern people than is being sent. The cartoon's depiction of Isis as much larger than the president, as well as the curious, condescending head which tilt he gives President Obama, implies that America's response to the terrorist group has no effect on them. The cartoon uses hyperbole to exaggerate Isis's unconcern and America's pathetic attempt at taming the brutal beast. The author wants Americans to realize that the nation is capable of so much more and to question why more is not being done.